Changing ISP & FTTC waiting lists

I currently have FTTC from Sky (40Mbps), but have arranged to change to Vodafone (also FTTC with upto 63Mbps) in a couple of weeks. Both are LLU providers on my exchange. The Vodafone order tracker shows that the order has been accepted by Openreach.

However, after placing my order, my cabinet is showing as full and having an FTTC waiting list on the BT Wholesale checker. I have heard of horror stories (here and elsewhere) of, people on full cabinets, changing ISPs and having the change stall on activation day and therefore being stuck with ASDL until a port frees up on their cabinet.

Does this really happen? Is it likely to happen to me, given that I am changing from one LLU FTTC provider to another? As I understand it all changes should happen on the exchange side, so the cabinet being oversubscribed should not be a factor.

I am a fair distance from the exchange, so my ASDL speed is likely to be 3Mbps compared with 60Mbps on FTTC. I am working from home at the moment and there is no way I will be able to do my job with only 3Mbps - that's before even thinking about entertaining two kids without the internet!

Vodafone do not do ADSL any more so i expect you will just be migrated without a problem.

I don't like the sound of that. Unless things have changed Openreach do the job with a Cease and Reprovide. But if there is a waiting list the order at the top of the list gets the port as soon as the Cease takes place.

Leaving the Reprovide at the bottom. That's if the new ISP, (in this case Vodafone), even uses the waiting list system. If it doesn't, your order simply fails and you have nothing. That's if Vodafone do not do ADSL2+ as the other poster says. Unless you could get back to ADSL2+ on Sky as a failed migration.

Thank you both for your response.

My understanding was that a cease and reprovide is only necessary if there are physical changes to the line, such as moving from ASDL to FTTC or the activation of a new line, is that not correct? Changing between LLU suppliers for the same product should not require a cease and reprovide, no?

Post deleted by RobertoS

Post deleted by RobertoS

You say you've read horror stories about people losing their port on the cabinet when switching.
I'd love to see an example that isn't over 5 years old.

They sorted the issues with migrating during a waiting list years ago.

The initial solution was they simply blocked you from switching provider if your cabinet was full.

The system sometimes still prevents people switching if a cabinet is full but if the ISP allows you to order and OpenReach accepts it then it will go through fine.

The bulk of the issues in the past stemmed from the physical port needing changed during a migration.
You keep the same port now during a migration, it's all done remotely.

Edit: to add that it is very rare for the waiting list to be used. It isn't automated in any way, the ISP needs to request a customer be placed on it. Most ISP's don't use the waiting list at all as it's too much hassle.
Unless they changed how it works that is.

Edited by j0hn83 (Mon 20-Apr-20 14:05:08)

I am told elsewhere that j0hn is correct and I'm well out of date.

I've deleted two of my posts but the first one is too old.

My apologies to you both.